Biokyra

Monday, June 30, 2014

On June 12, Brazil and Croatia match launched the
beginning of the 2014 World Cup. At the opening ceremony, however, the
healthcare industry was cheering for something else besides football. The first
kick was given by a paralysed teenager. This remarkable feat was possible
thanks to an exo-skeleton controlled by the teenager’s brain.

"The Walk Again Project is headed by Duke University's
Center for Neuroengineering in collaboration with the Technical University of
Munich and a number of other universities and research groups worldwide.
Together they are designing the exo-skeleton and a 3D printed helmet that
contains a series of electrodes capable of capturing brain waves. This brain
activity will then initiate the suit's movements.”

During this year of 2014, medtech breakthroughs have
been more connected to sport events. Aired at the 2014 Super Bowl, Microsoft
commercial shows how technology in general, and medical technology
specifically, has improved the lives of countless people around the world.
Another amazing video of Duracell, an American football player tells the story
of how, despite being deaf, he managed to become a professional NFL player.

Monday, June 16, 2014

In the last couple of
decades, China has attracted manufacturers from all over the world because of
low labor costs and excellent export infrastructure. By outsourcing their
production, China was a way to cut costs when producing big quantities. The
medical device sector was no different than that.

However, this trend may be
about to change. Chinese wages and the value of Chinese currency are rising.
The government mandate to raise the minimum wage, so it could bring labor cost
increases of 15–20% per year in Chinese factories. Meanwhile, freight and other
costs associated with offshore manufacturing are continuing to rise. There are
other risks when outsourcing in China, such as intellectual property protection
and quality control.

So manufacturers are
rethinking their strategies of outsourcing in China. Some US-based are
returning their production back to the United States. This is particularly good
when the product is meant for the American market. This reduces shipping costs
and challenges, gives OEMs a higher quality control and allows them to take
advantages of improving efficiencies in U.S.-based manufacturing.

Monday, June 2, 2014

This year edition of Hospitalar, International Fair
of Products, Equipment, Services and Technology for Hospitals, Laboratories,
Pharmacies and Clinics, took place in Sao Paulo between May 20-23.

As an effort to reverse the healthcare sector trade
deficit, Brazilian Health Devices (ABIMO’s project, developed in partnership
with Apex-Brasil) organized an international business round at Hospitalar 2014.
It reached US$ 1 million in sales and it is expected US$ 13 million for the
next 12 months. The business round aimed to promote Brazilian exports,
connecting Brazilian and foreign companies.